Proportional pressure distributor valve



Sept 25, l951 E. A. RocKwELL 2,568,900

PROPORTIONAL PRESSURE DISTRIBUTOR VALVE Filed June 9, 1944 4 Shees-Sheel 1 :w: Q7 lof?8 f pin 96 1oz /03 INVENTOR l04 Edward AlgC/wed Sept 25, 1951 E. A. ROCKWELL 2,568,900

PROPORTIONAL PRESSURE DISTRIBUTOR VALVE Filed June 9, 1944 4 Sheet's-Sheel 5 ATTO R N Y Patented Sept. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE PROPORTIONAL PRESSURE -DISTRIBUTOR VALVE `Edward A. Rockwell, Cleveland, Qhio Application -fune 9, 1944, Serial No. 539,583

`8 Claims. (Cl. 1351-153.)

My invention relates particularly vto an apparatus designed to `provide Yand distribute a plurality of proportionate viiuid pressures.

'The object :of my invention lis .to provide a mechanism by means of which a definite controllable ratio of :a plurality -fo iiu'id pressures lmay be obtained. lanother object 'is vto provide a hydraulic mechanism of this A'character whereby proportional hydraulic pressures may he distributed `for .the :operation oi yany desired mech-- amsm, zas tor example the Vbrakes nf an Iautomotive vehicle. A further obj-ect `to provide `an apparatus in which preselections, or adustments to change the ratios, voi the pressures can be made at 'any time, as :for example when the `parts vare under load `and regardless of the pressures involved. .A rurtherobject is to Yadjust the rate :of ziiow o .fthe delivered pressure lfluid-s. Another fo'bect iis to provide an teffective man-ual operating means Tor the said adjustment and Vwhich `is so designed :as to avoid the of attachment `of the movable manual means to 'the .adjustable ratio-changing element for oontrolling the movement of the distributor valve. Still another object is to enable such .adjusted ratios to be obtained throughout the time -whiie the pressure iiuid -is being supplied to 'the distributor valve. .Another obect 'is to apply 'the .apparatus to vehicles, especially on busses, wherein, when operated in 'undesirable road conditions `due to wet weather, it is desirable at times to alter the proportional `braking n the front wheels in order to obtain effective steering, and on heavy trucks, due 'to changes in loads, 'it is often ldesirable to adjust the proportional vbraking on the fron-t and rear wheels. Also von tractors with rsemi-trailers, in Wet weather, it may be desirable to adjust the l.proportional braking on the tractor and trailer, or to change the ratio of braking by altering the hydraulic pressure applied to both tractor and trailer. A iurther object is to provide lmeans to allow a lmanual setting of the proportionate pressures to be preselected, after which, when 'the load is taken off the apparatus, the latter automatically resets itself to the new position to deliver the reset pressures.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms, for the purpose of illustration I Vhave shown only one form of the same in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus made in :accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

2 Eig.. 4 is a vertical section taken on line '4-4 Of Yl;

Fig. :5 .is a vertical section 4of a plunger stop pin 'taken 'online 5`5 of Fig. '3;

Fig. 6 is :a vertical :sect-ion of one lof the lever n pivots taken ,on line .I5-6 of Fig.. v3:;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of 'a front and 'rear Abrake controlling system Vmade in accordance with `my invention;

Fig. ;-8 is .an .elevation of the instrument panel used therewith;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section iof said .instrument panel .on line 9 9 of Fig. 18; and

Fig. 10 is a chart showing the curves of 'relative pressures applied to `the fron-t and `rear wheel brakes with my control system.

In the drawings, i( have shown an instrument panel I, on a dashboard 1a of an automobile, the upper part of which is triangular in shape, having a mounting plate l1b iiftting on the dashboard la and :carrying a Vacuum gauge 2 connected v.by a pipe 3 'to any suitable source of vacuum, which may 'be utilized in any desired way ior providing a 'source of hydraulic iiuid under pressure for operating `the hydraulic brakes of my system. This source of hydraulic iiuid under pressure may be provided andcontrolled, for example, in accordance with the apparatus shown and described in my copending 'application -upon Intensier lfor the Application or" Power, 'Serial No. 507,227, filed 'October 20, 194B, now Patent No. 2,564,582. The

said pan-el carries, also, a gauge 4 l'connected by a pipe '5 'to a pipe E for operating the iront wheel brakes and, also, contains a `dial 'l connected by a pipe -8 to a pipe 9 for operating the rear Wheel brakes. vOn the said panel, furthermore, there are provided a front brake handle VIl) and a rear brake handle il which are mounted, respectively, on levers IZand 'I3 passing through slots "Ill and If in said panel I. The levers I2 and I3 are carried by a pivot pin I mounted on a `frame II which is located behind the panel "I, The said frame Il has two ears I8 and I9 for supporting the pivot p-i-n i6, and khas two sectors 20 and 2l having racks which cooperate with buttons 22 and 23 on the levers I2 and I3, respectively, to hold them in Vany adjusted position. Furthermore, it will be noted that the levers I2 and I3 have lever arms 213 and 25 carrying headed pivot pins 26 and 21 lwhich pass through slots 28 and 29 in operating members 30 and 3l which yare attached, respectively, to Bowden wires 32 and 33. A washer 34 and a cotter pin 35 are carried by each of the rods 26 and ZI to hold them in place in the operating members 3-1! and 3l respectively. The said Bowden wires 32 and 33 pass through Hexible conduits 36 and 31 which are fastened in an angularly shaped cross member 38 on an arm 39 forming a part of the frame |1. The two Bowden wires 32 and 33 lead, respectively, to proportional pressure distributors 48 and 4|, both of which are constructed alike and which are connected to an inlet pipe 42 provided with a modulated hydraulic pressure fluid and which may be supplied from any suitable control apparatus, preferably manually controlled, as disclosed in detail in my copending application above referred to. It will be understood, in other words, that the pipe 42 is arranged to supply or release the modulated pressure liquid, as desired, for the control of any desired mechanism, but which in this instance is shown and described for the control of the brakes of an automotive vehicle. This pipe 42 has branch pipes 43 and 44 leading to the proportional pressure distributor valve devices 48 and 4|. The proportional distributor valve 48, also, is connected to the pipe 6, which has branch pipes 45 and 46 leading to the usual Iwheel brake cylinders 41 and 48 controlling the operation of brake shoes 49 and 58 located on the front wheels of an automobile. Likewise, the proportional distributor valve 4| is connected to the pipe 9 which leads by branch pipes and 52 to the usual wheel brake cylinders 53 and 54 controlling brake shoes 55 and 56 on the rear wheels of the automobile.

Inasmuch as the two proportional distributor valves 48 and 4| are constructed exactly alike, I have shown the detailed construction of only one of the same in Figs. 1 to 6, the same being, for example, the proportional distributor valve 4| which is connected to the flexible conduit 31 containing within the same the Bowden wire 33. The proportional distributor valve 4| has a casing 51, into one side of which there is screw-threaded a sleeve 58 having screwthreaded to the same a clamping nipple 59 provided at its outer end with ears 68 adapted to be clamped together by a -bolt 6| in order to clamp within the same one end of the conduit 31. On

the end of the Bowden wire 33 there is secureda sleeve 62 lby means of a screw 63, which holds in place a helical spring 64 around the Bowden wire 33 within the sleeve 58. The said sleeve 62 has its forward movement limited by a shoulder 65 on the interior of the sleeve 58, the said shoulder being adjacent to an opening 66 provided to receive an adjusting rod 61 which abuts against the end of the sleeve 62. When assembling the conduit 31 and the Bowden wire 33 in the proportional distributor valve 4| it will be understood that the bolt 6| is first loosened, after which the conduit 31, with the Bowden wire 33 therein, is forced into the sleeve 58 against the adjacent end of the adjusting rod 61, after which the said bolt 6| is tightened to securely clamp the end of the conduit 31 in place. The other end of the adjusting rod 61 rests against a compressed helical spring 68 carried in a recess 69 in a screw plug 18 screw-threaded into the casing 51. This end of the adjusting rod 61 is supported Within a cylindrical web 1| formed on the casing 51, and the said web is provided with a laterally directed set screw 12 (see Fig. 5) having an end 13 which acts as a stop by passing through a recess 14 formed on the side of the rod 61. The

recess 14 cooperating with the stop 13 limits the i movement of the adjusting rod 81 and, also, prevents the said rod 61 from turning. Furthermore, the said rod 61 has located at the center thereof a vertical hole carrying loosely within the same a pin 18 having an upper flat surface 11 and a lower rounded end 18. The at end 11 provides stability for the adjusted position of the pin 16. The rod 61, accordingly, can be moved into different adjusted positions to the right or left, as desired, according to the proportional pressures desired to be transmitted by the apparatus. For this purpose, the laterally adjustable pin 16 is carried 'between the faces of an upper valve lever 18 and a lower valve lever 88 which are carried on pivot pins 8| and 82, respectively, supported within the casing 51. Both of these pivotal supports are constructed the same, and by way of example I have shown, in Fig. 6, a cross-section of the support for the pivot pin 82. One end of the pin 82 is carried in a recess 83 in the casing 51 so as to support the valve lever 88, and the other end of the pin 82 carries a sleeve 84 which is maintained in place .by a cover plate 85 attached by screws 88 to the side of theA casing 51. On the other side, said casing 51 has a plurality of screw holes 81 for attachment to the proportional distributor valve 4| to any desired support on the chassis of the automobile.

This valve lever 88, on its lower face, is in contact with a rounded head 88 on a fluted rod 89 supported in a recess 98 in a plunger 9| carried in a cylinder 92 within the casing 51. The said plunger 9| hasl an annular rubber seal 93 around its periphery and is, also, provided with a centrally located projection 94 extending downwardly into contact with a uted valve stem 95 on a tapered valve 96 which seats against a valve seat 91 on a removable valve sleeve 98 which is provided with a peripheral rubber seal 99 and which is held in place by a split ring |88 located within the cylindrical passageway 92. The valve stem 95, beyond the conical valve 96, has a reduced end |8| for positioning thereon a helical spring |82, ylocated in a recess |83 within a screw plug |84 screw-threaded in said casing 51 for seating the valve 96 normally. Above the sleeve 98 there is a chamber |85 for receiving the hydraulic fluid under pressure. which is Aadapted to be admitted by the conical valve 96. The said chamber |85 has two outlet ports |86 and |81, the port |86 being normally closed by a screw plug |88, while the port |81 is connected to the pipe 9 which leads to the rear wheel brakes. Beneath the conical valve 96 there is an annular chamber |89 which receives the pressure liquid from an inclined passageway ||8 leading to a vertical passageway closed at the top by a plug ||2 and which communicates with an inclined passageway H3 leading to a chamber ||4 closed by a screw plug ||5 in the upper portion of the casing 51. This chamber ||4 has two ports ||6 and I|1, the latter of which, port, ||1, is connected to the pipe 44 while theformer, port ||6, in the apparatus as shown herein, is normally closed by a screw plug I8, inasmuch as in the apparatus as shown I have provided the proportional distributor valve 48 for operating the front brakes and the proportional distributor valve 4| for operating the rear wheel brakes. However, it will be understood that instead of having a separate proportional distributor valve for controlling each of said sets of brakes, a single proportional distributor valve 4| could be used for controlling both sets of brakes, front and rear, by merely removing the plug ||8 and connecting the port ||6 to the front wheel brakes by means of the pipe 6. Within the chamber 4, furthermore, there is a plunger H9, having a peripheral rubber seal |20. similar toy the plunger; 9|.. This plunger ||9 has on its upper face a projection |2| to act as a guide for a helical springV |22,

'which rests against theplug I I5. The said spring |22 tends to-force the plunger I I9 downwardly by overcoming .theV friction of the seal and saidk plunger II 9 carries within the same a fiuted rod |23 having thereon a rounded head |24 rests against the upper face of the valve lever 19. The lower face of the valve lever 19 rests against the at surface 11'on the upper endof the pin 16.

In the operation of my apparatus. it will be understood that when the modulated pressure is being applied through the pipe 42; the valves 90 will' become unseated, respectively, by the pres.- sure exerted through the plungers |19, 9| and pin 16. and the pressures from the hydraulic fluid delivered tothe front wheel brake cylinders 41 and 48 are registered on the dial 4v while the pressures on the rear wheel brake cylinders 53 and 54 are registered on the dial 1; These -two pressures are not only controllable by the manually modulated pressure received from the pipe 42, in which the pressures exerted on the brake cylinders are reactive back onto the manual means to exert a feel" thereon, but are individually controllable, respectively, by the handles I0 and which can be moved to adjust the desired pressures for the front and rear wheel brakes, respectively, and: so as to remain in their adjusted position by reason of the' racks or sectors 29 and 2|. The adjustment of each of the Bowden wires 32 and 33 connected thereto results in the desired adjustment of the position of the vertical pin 16, which is displaceable between the oppositely pivoted valvelevers 19 and 80 so as to obtain the desired ratio, or even a l to 1 ratio, and irrespective of 'whether or not the pistons 9| and |I9 are the same size as each other. However, as the end of the Bowden wire 33 acts as an adjustable abutment not fastened to the rod 61, owing to the slot -28 and to the springs 64 and 68 when the load from the upper and lower valve levers 19 and 80 'is released from the pin 16 the rod 61 will move to the left against thefwire 33, due to the spring 68, so as to move the wire 33 as far as the slot 2:8 will permit, when the pin 16 is free to move, or the rod 61 willbe moved to the right'A byl the lspring 64', which is stronger than the spring 68,

when the manual adjustment is made in this clirection. This permits preselection of` the ratio in either direction without strain on or possible breakage of the Bowden wire. By this means, in each of the twoproportional distributor valves vand 4|, a definite adjusted proportional pressure is obtainable and preselectable in each of the pipes 6 and 9 -with regard to the pressure received through the pipe 42. `In this way an adjusted constant diierential of pressures between the front wheel brakes and the incoming pressure in the pipe 42 can be secured, and the same is true with regard to the rear wheel brakes, but different adjusted differentials for the front wheel brakes and the rear wheel brakes, respectively, are readily obtainable. The adjusted differential pressure in each of these instances is, of course, due to the position of the pin 16 between the adjacent faces of the valve levers 19 and 80, so that the pressure delivered from the outlet port |01 is an adjusted constant differential with regard to the pressure in the inlet port` |I1 due to the ratios` in the effective leverlengths ofthe valve. operatingv levers -lil 19 and 80. Also, it will be understood.v of course, that the manual modulation of the iiuid` pressure in the pipe 42 controls the position of the front and` rear wheel brakes while at the same time maintaining the adjusted differential between the incoming pressure and the front wheel brakes and between the incoming pressure and the rear wheel brakes. In this way, also, the proportional relationship may be maintained be.- tween the front wheel brakes and the rear wheel brakes. For example, the manually controlled and modulated pressure liquid received by the pipe 42 immediately acts on the plungersv ||9 of the distributor valves 40 and 4| and thereupon immediately establishes, by means of the levers 19 and 80, the pin 16, plunger 9|. and the valve 96, 91, a denite diierential of pressures in the chambers H4 and |05, inasmuch as` the pressure liquid from the chamber ||4 is transmitted through the passageways H3, I and l0 to the chamber |09 andv thence past the valve 96 to the chamber |05, the position of the valve 96 being controlled in this way to maintain the adjusted diierential of pressures for the front andy rear wheel brakes. Upon any relaxation of the pressure in the pipe 44, this will causeV the pressurein the chamber |05 of the distributor valves 40 and 4| to exceed the pressure in the chamber |09, thus causing at rst an increase of volume by lifting the plunger 9| away from its valve 96 and then the escape, to that extent, of the liquid downwardly past the valve 96, 91, upwardly through the passageway III, and thence tothe chamber |`|4 and the port |1, thus relieving the pressure and releasing the brakes on the front and'l rear wheels. As above stated, when the load is released the pin 15 is free to move, and, accordingly, the'valve Sitv can become seated by the spring |02, as shown in Fig. 3, the force of which is just suilicient-for this purpose.

As pointed out above, however, it willbe obvious that a single one 0i the proportional distributor valves 40 and 4|r may .be used for controlling both the front and rear wheel brakes so as to maintain the definite adjusted differential of pressures applied thereto and for which purpose'the plug |'|8 will be removed so as to connect the port ||B to the pipe t for controlling the front wheel brakes while the pipe 9 would still be con'- nectcd to the rear Wheel brakes. `In that event, the single handle I would control the differential of both the iront and rear Wheel brakes and the.

other proportional distributor valve `40 and its connections would beeliminated.

In Fig. 10' I have shown a chart giving curves |25, |25 and |21 showing the line pressures for the frontand rear wheel brakes at three diierent adjustments of the differential pressures and throughout the range of rear wheel line pressures from O to 1590 lbs. per square inch. It will be noted that these three curves |25,` |26' and |21 are substantially. straight line curves. This shows the establishment of an adjusted constant dierential pressure relationship between the front and rear wheel line pressures with" thesize of the plungers 9| and H9 in Fig. 3, but if larger plunger sizes are used a steeper curve on the diaphragm, l0, can be obtained. There is also a differential volume relationship of the plungers lis and Si, due to the adjusted position of the pin 'I5 andthe variable leverages of the levers 19 and 30 resulting therefrom.

While T. havedescribed my invention above 4in detail I. wish it lto beunderstood thatmany 7 changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the same. i

I claim:4

1.'A proportional pressure distributor means having a source of supply thereto cfa controlling hydraulic pressure liquid adapted to be controlled at will, a connection for delivering a controlled hydraulic liquid, a preselection means, constructed to be set in a xed position initially, a pair of lever arms subject to the controlling and delivered pressures, respectively, and an interposed connector between said lever arms normally out of contact With said preselection means for adjusting the delivered pressure when the .load is being released, adapted to maintain a constant diierential ofV said pressures through- 'out the range of said controlling hydraulic pressure.

2. A proportional pressure distributor means having a source of supply thereto of a controlling 4hydraulic pressure liquid adapted to be controlled at will, a connection for delivering a controlled hydraulic liquid, and an adjusting means for adjusting the delivered pressure, having an adjustable ratio determining element and a manually operable preselection ratio setting device having a lost-motion connection to said element.

3. A proportional pressure distributor means having a source of supply thereto of a controlling hydraulic pressure liquid, including a chamber receiving a hydraulic liquid, adapted to be controlled at will, a delivery passage for work performance having a connection provided with a delivery and return valve leading to said chamber -for delivering and returning to said chamber a controlled hydraulic liquid, and an adjusting means in said connection for adjusting the delivered pressures, adapted to maintain a constant diierential of said pressures with regard to the received hydraulic liquid throughout thefrange of said controlling hydraulic pressure, the delivered adjusted hydraulic pressures being reactive against the controlling hydraulic pressure.

4. A proportional pressure distributor means having a source of supply thereto of a controlling hydraulic pressure liquid, including a pipe receiving a hydraulic liquid, adapted to be controlled at will, a delivery passage for Work performance having a connection provided with a valve leading to said pipe for delivering a controlled hydraulic liquid at one pressure, a second delivery passage for another work performance having a connection provided with a second valve leading to 'said second passage for delivering another hydraulic pressure, and adjusting means in each of said valve connections for adjusting the respective delivered pressures, adapted to maintain a constant differential of each of said delivered pressures with regard to the received hydraulic liquid throughout the range of said controlling hydraulic liquid pressure, the said adjusting means comprising two separate proportional pressure distributor devices having separate manual adjusting levers located adjacent to each other with a single scale indicating the relative adjustments of said differential pressures.

5. A proportional pressure distributor means having a source of supply thereto of a controlling hydraulic pressure liquid, including a pipe receiving a hydraulic liquid, adapted to be controlled at will, a delivery passage for work performance having a connection provided with a valve leading to said pipe for delivering a controlled hydraulic liquid at one pressure, a second delivery passage for another work perform- 8 ance having a connection provided with a second valve leading to said second passage for delivering another hydraulic pressure, and adjusting means in` each of said valve connections for adjusting the respective delivered pressures,

adapted to maintain a constant diierential of each of said delivered pressures with regard to the received hydraulic liquid throughout the range of said controlling hydraulic liquid pressure, the delivered adjusted hydraulic pressures from both said connections being reactive in said pipe to produce a single reaction against the controlling hydraulic pressure, the said adjusting means comprising two separatev proportional pressure distributor devices having separate manualadjusting levers located adjacent to each other with a single scale indicating the relative adjustments of said differential pressures.

6. A proportional pressure distributor means having a source of supply thereto of a controlling hydraulic pressure liquid, including a chamber receiving a hydraulic liquid, adapted to be controlled at will, a delivery passage for work performance having a connection provided with a valve and valve seat leading to said chamber for delivering and releasing through said valve seat a controlled hydraulic liquid, and an adjusting means in said connection for adjusting the delivered pressures, adapted to maintain a constant differential of said pressures with regard to the received hydraulic liquid throughout the range of said controlled hydraulic pressure, the delivered adjusted hydraulic pressures being reactive against the controlling hydraulic pressure, said adjusting means comprising a plunger and a chamber for the plunger in communication with the valve and having a freely open communication with the delivery connection so as to increase the volume of the plunger chamber by the movement of said plunger away from the valve when the controlling hydraulic pressure is being released.

'7. A proportional pressure distributor means having a source of supply thereto of a controlling hydraulic pressure liquid, including a chamber receiving a hydraulic liquid, adapted to be controlled at will, a delivery passage for work performance having-a connection provided with a valve and valve seat leading to said chamber for delivering and releasing through said valve seat a controlled hydraulic liquid, and an adjusting means in said connection for adjusting the delivered pressures adapted to maintain a constant differential of said pressures with regard to the received hydraulic liquid throughout the range of said controlling hydraulic pressure, said adjusting means comprising an adjustable fulcrum in contact with two movable lever arms connected together at said fulcrum in the form of a movable slidable pivot carried by a movable member, a plunger and a chamber for the plunger in communication with the valve and having a freely open communication with the delivery-connection so as to increase the volume of the plunger chamber by the movement of said plunger away from the valve when the controlling hydraulic pressure is being released.

8. A proportional pressure distributor means having a source of supply thereto of a controlling hydraulic pressure liquid, including a chamber receiving a hydraulic liquid as a single source of pulsating pressure having therein a piston, adapted to be controlled at will, a delivery passage for work performance, provided with a valve and valve seat, having a connection leading to said chamber and said piston for delivering and releasing through said valve seat a controlled hydraulic liquid, and an adjusting means in said connection cooperating with said piston for adjusting the delivered pressures, adapted to maintain a constant dierential of said pressures with regard to the received hydraulic liquid throughout the range of said controlled pulsating hydraulic pressure, the delivered adjusted hydraulic pressures being reactive against the controlling hydraulic pressure, said adjusting means comprising a plunger and a chamber for the plunger in communication with the valve and having a freely open communication with the delivery passage so as to increase the volume of the plunger chamber by the movement of 10 said plunger away from the valve when the controlling hydraulic pressure is being released.

EDWARD A. ROCKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,536,508 Lilja May 5, 1925 1,558,529 Wunsch Oct. 27, 1925 2,120,681 Ryder June 14, 1938 2,170,086 McCune Aug. 22, 1939 2,244,686 Garrison June 10, 1941 2,313,991 Fitch Mar. 16, 1943 

